Hood latch



March 12,1940. D. P. HYNEs Hoon LATCH Original Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 12, 1940. D. P. HYNEs 2,193,134

`HOOD LATCH Original Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PATENT 4FFICE 2,193,134 noon LATCH in automobile hood latches and is my co-pending iiled in the United 11th day of July, 1938.

Dibrell P. Hynes, Evanston,

Ill., assignor to Chicago Forging & Manufacturing Company, Chi

cago, Ill., a corporation of Original application Illinois July 11, 193s, serial No.

220,657. Divided and this application Decembei' 24, 1938, Serial 4 claims. lol. 292-214) The present invention relates to improvements a division of application Serial No. 220,657, States Patent Ofllce on the One purpose is the provision of an improved latching means connection with which is adaptable for use in top panel front opening automobile hoods` wherein the panel is pivoted at the rear and opens from the front. It is, however,

capable of other applications.

Another purpose is the provision of handle control means whereby, when the handle reaches one of its limits of movement, it is normally returned in a rearward direction a predetermined distance when released.

Other objects` the course of I illustrate my will appear from time to time the speciication and claims. invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side front end of an elevation in part section of the automobile using my latch;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the inner side of the hand controlled ing the latch in portion of the hood latch showengaged position: Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 showing the latch in disengaged positio Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4 4 ci' Fig.

3; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in part section of the hood latch structure illustrated in Fig. 1.

Like parts are indicated by like characters in the specication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings,

radiator grill or or hood, pivoted I is the automobile apron, a part of the body. 2 3 is the top panel as at l, at the rear end. 5 is a hand lever projecting from a lock spindle B, which spindle extends inwardly through the grill or apron and is rotatably mounted therein. 1 is a bracket assisting in supporting the spindle. 9

is a crank rigidly mounted on the spindle 6. 9 is a connecting rod extendinr from the lever upwardly inside the grill or apron to the latch.

I Il is a stop arm extending from the spindle 6 in a direction locked position. that the tension against the abutment II opposite to the crank 8. It is II, when in the is so positioned holds the lug III in locked position. I2

This abutment on the rod 9 is a spring in the path of the lug I9. i3 is an abutment which crank in the unlocking When the lever crank l in a cl limits the movement of the position. l is manipulated to rotate the ockwise direction. referring to the parts as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the part I unseats from the abutment Il, the crank moves to the left, and the connecting rod 9 is forced upwardly. This continues until the lug I0 engages the spring I2. Further movement of the lug I0, by manipulation of the crank 8 by engagement with the lever 5, causes the lug I0 to compress the spring I2, and when the lug I0 and spring I2 are against the abutment I3, the spring I2 will remain in compressed position.

When the lug I Il rests against the abutment I3, the hood latch controlled by the handle is in the completely open position, both the automatic safety latch and the main positive latch being free. The spring I2, however, as soon as the operator releases the handle 5, raises the lug I0 off the abutment I3 and moves the parts into the position where the automatic safety catch is permitted to return to the locking position without any effect whatever upon the main positive hood latch.

I5 is a bracket upon which the hood latch itself is mounted. Upon this bracket is pivoted the safety latch hook IB, adapted to engage with a safety latch abutment I1, supported on a frame I'lIl depending from the hood. 'I'he hook has a cam surface I9 adapted to be engaged by the underside of the abutment Il as it comes down to rotate the hook to the left to permit the abutment to pass below the end of the hook. I9 is a spring which permits the hook to yield and snaps it back into position above the abutment I1.

In closed position the abutment Il is located a few inches below the hook. 'I'he abutment I'l and the abutment engaging portion are inclined so as to provide a positive hook action so that if the hood latch is not otherwise fastenedand blows open, the abutment Il and the surface 20 on the hook interlock, positively preventing opening beyond a Pivoted on the bracket latch crank 25, supported frame 260, which projects vehicle frame.

I5 is a positive hood in bearings 26 on a upwardly from the The oifset central portion 21 of predetermined point.

this crank, located between the bearings 26, is 4 When the handle is in the full open position, with the lug I against the stop I3, the eyelet 28, which engages the cam surface 30 on the automatic safety hook I6, moves up to swing the hook in a counter-clockwise direction, throwing it out of line` with the abutment I1, so that the hood can be opened. But as soon as the operator releases his hold on the handle, the spring I2 rotates the lever sufciently to allow the eyelet 28 to come down and permit the spring I9 to move the automatic latch hook into the operative position.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

I claim:

1. A control means for hood latches and the like, including a handle, a rotatably mounted spindle rigidly connected thereto, a connecting rod, spaced abutments adapted to constrict the rotation' of the handle between angular limits, and yielding means, adapted to be compressed when thc handle reaches one of its limits, and to normally return the handle a part of its angular excursion from such limit when the handle is released. l

2. Control means for hood latches and the like comprising a rotatably mounted spindle, a handle and a lever both rigidly mounted on the spindle, an extension for the lever on the opposite side of the axis of rotation, two spaced abutments adapted to be engaged by the extension and to limit the angular excursion of the handle, and spring means associated with said lever and adapted, in cooperation with one of said abutments yieldingly to disengage the extension from such abutment and to return it toward the opposite handle position when the handle is released.

3. Control means for hood latches and the like including a rotatably mounted member, a handle and a lever both rigid in relation to said member, an extension for the lever on the opposite side of the axis of rotation, means for limiting said extension to a predetermined arc of movement and for thereby limiting the angular excursion of the handle, and means for normally urging said lever extension to an intermediate position in relation to its arc of movement.

4. For use with an automobile hood and body, having a hood latch interposed between hood and body, control means for the hood latch including a rotatable member mounted on and adjacent the front of the body, an exterior handle movable therewith, latch means intermediate hood and body, an actuating connection between the rotatable member and latch means, and means normally eective to urge said handle to an intermediate position in relation to the normal path of movement involved in its opening or closing excursion.

DIBRELL P. HYNES. 

